CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard for Baby Changing Products
July 2, 2018, cpsc.gov
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal standard intended to improve the safety of baby changing products, which include changing tables, changing table accessories, add-on changing units and contoured changing pads. The new federal standard incorporates the most recent voluntary standard developed by ASTM International (ASTM F2388-18, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Baby Changing Products for Domestic Use), with no modifications. The standard addresses the hazard patterns associated with the use of baby changing products and includes requirements for structural integrity, restraint-system integrity and warnings on labels and in instructional literature.
EU in agreement with Amazon, eBay to tackle dangerous product listings
June 25, 2018, Reuters
The European Commission has signed an agreement with four major online retailers to combat the listing of dangerous products on Europe’s online shopping sites. The pledge covers products that could endanger consumer health in various ways, such as through fire hazard. It is part of broader Commission efforts to tackle an array of dangerous or illegal content online. AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and Rakuten-France agreed to remove dangerous product listings within two days of being notified by authorities and respond to customer notifications within five days.
Washington state seeks ‘prevention approach’ on flame retardants
July 3, 2018, Chemical Watch
Washington state’s ecology department (ECY) is looking to shift its approach on managing flame retardants towards one of prevention – that is, acting before harm has occurred – a recent meeting has heard. The state is developing a report that will set out policy recommendations on six flame retardants: TPP, TCPP, TBPH, V6, IPTPP and TBB. The action comes as part of a 2016 law that banned five flame retardants from children’s products. That regulation also directed the state to act on the latest six.
Survivors sue importers of hoverboard blamed for Harrisburg house fire that killed 2 kids
July 5, 2018, Penn Live
The survivors of a March 2017 Harrisburg house fire that killed two children are suing the importers of a Chinese-made hoverboard blamed for starting the blaze. They also are suing MAR Construction, the owner of the house at 2534 Lexington Street, claiming the three-story row home wasn’t properly equipped with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or a fire escape.
Denmark investigating fines for non-compliant toys manufacturers and importers
July 5, 2018, Chemical Watch
The Danish environment and food minister is investigating the possibility of fining importers and producers of illegal toys on sale in the country.These would be issued directly by the EPA’s chemicals inspectorate, bypassing the need for a longer prosecution process. The decision comes off the back of Denmark’s EPA advising retailers to remove all ‘squishy’ toys from the market after testing found they emit chemicals hazardous to children.
Segway invents crazy self-balancing roller-skates that zoom around like a hoverboard
June 29, 2018, The Sun
SEGWAY has brought roller skates into the 21st century with a pair of “e-skates”. They’re built using the self-balancing tech that power hoverboards and can whizz you around the streets in true sci-fi style. The space-age shoes are being dubbed Segway Drift W1, but we know very little else about them so far.
IKEA Furniture Recalled 2 Years Ago Still Being Sold
June 29, 2018, Claims Journal
Too many of IKEA’s recalled, hazardous dressers remain in consumers’ homes, according to safety advocates speaking on the second anniversary of the largest product recall in history. Since the 2016 recall of millions of IKEA Malm dressers and similar units for their propensity to tip over onto children and crush them, there has not been nearly enough action by IKEA to remove hazardous furniture from homes, according to advocates Kids In Danger, Consumer Federation of America, Shane’s Foundation, Consumers Union. They call on IKEA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to take further action to get more of these dangerous products out of homes.
California Adopts the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018
July 3, 2018, Hotel News Resource
Privacy legislation is dominating the news cycle these days–and it’s unlikely to slow down. Now, as U.S. companies are adjusting to the requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, the State of California has introduced new laws that will apply to California companies or companies doing business in California.
Consumer products giant Unilever calls on Australia to step up its battle against plastic pollution
June 23, 2018, abc.net.au
Multinational Unilever, one of the world’s biggest consumer products companies says it is being held back in the push to deliver more sustainable packaging. While the Government has pledged to make all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, Unilever is calling for “stronger co-ordination around how targets are delivered”.
The Doctor who discovered lead in Flint’s water on what went wrong and how to fix it
June 28, 2018, Time
According to the physician who researched the danger of lead in Flint’s water system, she was clued in by a high school girlfriend–a drinking-water expert–over a glass of wine at a barbecue at my house. She told the physician that the water [which was being piped from the local river to save money] wasn’t being treated properly. Instead of taking the physician’s research seriously, local officials, attacked the doctor and the science. Everybody talking about this was attacked: moms, activists, pastors, journalists.
Cycling Safety: Insurance Industry, Virginia Tech Rate Biker Helmets
June 27, 2018, Insurance Journal
A first-of-its-kind study using the latest techniques for simulating head injuries found significant variations in how bike helmets protect against concussions. Urban-style helmets — which have nearly solid covers with few vents — and those that haven’t adopted the latest anti-concussion technology were more than twice as likely to result in injuries, researchers from Virginia Tech and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found in a study.
